One of the more popular products that is available on the market today is CBD lotion. This is not surprising news, however. As the love of CBD and the products that it is available in becomes stronger and the people become more educated about what cannabidiol really is, more products will emerge, and more uses for CBD will be in effect.
Although there is a lot of talk about CBD and all of the supposed great things that it does, is it helpful to use it for skin care? Let us lay out a few facts about CBD and how it works so that you can get an idea of your own.
CBD and other Cannabinoids
There is a lot of hype about CBD, hemp and other cannabis related materials that are for sale these days. Some states allow the sale and consumption of products that have a high THC content, while others still frown on using THC. What CBD and THC have in common is that they are both cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids are compounds that are found in the cannabis plant. Scientists believe that these compounds act as defense systems against pests. The effects of different cannabinoids on certain bugs and worms can vary, but in essence, cannabinoids can repel pests…or even harm them.
A step further into the science of cannabinoids is that researchers believe that they can also be helpful in attracting pollinating insects in order to further the future existence of the plants.
The whole science behind cannabinoids and how they affect the human body is wrapped up in mysteries and unanswered questions. However, it is certain that humans and animals alike naturally produce their own version of cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids.
Endocannabinoids
The endocannabinoids that humans and some animals produce within their own bodies are so similar to the cannabinoids that cannabis plants produce that our bodies can hardly tell the difference. Because of this, cannabinoids work seamlessly in the human body to help and carry out some of the daily processes that our bodies have to do in order to live and thrive.
The endocannabinoid system is a network of receptors that sends signals throughout the body in order to maintain a level of balance that keeps everything in check. This state of balance is known as homeostasis. Cannabinoids are able to communicate with the endocannabinoid system in our own bodies and help to regulate homeostasis in a way that is not exactly clear to researchers and scientists.
The one thing that peaks much interest for scientists and CBD enthusiasts alike is that the receptors that connect everything together in the system are located just beneath the skin where CBD that is infused with lotion could potentially gain access to the receptors and bring on the effects of CBD to the person who applies the lotion.
Skin and CBD Lotion
Theoretically, the only way for CBD and other cannabinoids to become introduced into the body and be effective is to get introduced into the bloodstream. Needless to say, regular skin lotion will not penetrate the skin deep enough to silt through the veins and reach the bloodstream. As we mentioned above, there is a possibility that the CBD in the lotion can reach the endocannabinoid receptors located just under the skin.
In any event, as for any health benefits of using CBD on the skin, there are none to be reported. The science just has not been examined far enough to come to any solid conclusion regarding the good or bad effects of CBD on the skin through the use of lotions.
However, most CBD lotions are made out of powerful ingredients that help to moisturize the skin and apply antioxidants that fight the free radicals that cause us to get damaged skin cells and age. High-quality CBD lotions will most definitely have moisturizers and oils that feed the health and suppleness of the skin.
Jojoba Oil
One of the most common oils that is infused with CBD lotions is jojoba oil. Although its name may sound like some eccentric plant that grows on the other side of the world in the jungles that are filled with venomous snakes and tropical spiders, the jojoba plant is native to North America. It loves the heat and dryness of the deserts that kill most other living beings.
One of the more popular reasons that manufacturers use jojoba oil is that it is known to be hypoallergenic. This means that it does not cause allergic reactions in people. This is a huge plus because CBD is such a versatile entity that people from all walks of life on every surface of the Earth use it.
Jojoba oil is ideal to mix with CBD because it has many of the same qualities that CBD is believed to have. It is known to be an antioxidant and be able to minimize inflammation.
Moisturizing Qualities
Since hemp oil is not as widely available as many of the other oils that are on the market, such as coconut oil, cocoa butter, avocado oils, and olive oils, it is difficult to determine how much of an effect it has on moisturizing the skin. CBD only makes up a miniscule percentage of the oil that is inside of a skin conditioning lotion. If the main ingredient was CBD, there might be problems with the amount of this active ingredient being accessed and put to use by the user. In other words, if the main oil of the lotion was hemp oil, the person using it would get a much bigger amount than they need. This could cause an overuse of CBD, which may or may not bee too much for the person using it.
Although CBD is much different than THC because it does not cause a “high” the effects that it has on the human brain is still not completely understood. As it is, the cannabinoid has the power to affect the central nervous system and either send messages or not send messages.
For example, if a stressful situation comes in front of a person that is under the influence of CBD the cannabinoid can block the receptors from sending messages that the body should tense up in order to brace for an oncoming event that will need protection. When these signals become interrupted by an outside entity, there is no way to tell whether or not the command from the cannabinoid is a healthy command, or not.
In this sense, it could be that hemp oil that is rich in CBD would be extremely beneficial for moisturizing skin, but we may never know because the amount of actual hemp oil in the lotion is very small…and for good reason.
Conclusion
From what we have discussed throughout this article it is easy to see that there are possibilities that using CBD infused lotion is beneficial for the body and the skin. Although there are many more questions about the exact nature of how cannabinoids affect the human body and the chemistry of the processes that the central nervous system and the brain work with each other to accomplish, there is much research happening in and around the cannabinoid industry that promises to unfold many hidden truths and bring answers to the communities that are seeking them.